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A terrorism investigation is underway in Edmonton, the place a police officer was stabbed and 4 pedestrians struck down by a fleeing U-Haul truck Saturday evening.

A 30-year-old Edmonton man is in custody and police assume he acted alone, however they aren’t ruling out the potential for others to be be concerned.

“We are urging Edmontonians to be vigilant and aware of their surroundings,” Edmonton Police Service Chief Rod Knecht stated in a three a.m. information convention on the assaults.

READ MORE: A timeline of Canadian terrorist incidents

The chaos started down the road from Commonwealth Stadium, the place the Edmonton Eskimos had been internet hosting the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Canadian Forces Appreciation Night. Over 30,000 people had been on the recreation.

Police examine the scene the place a automobile crashed right into a roadblock in Edmonton Alta, on Saturday September 30, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Police stated at round eight:15 p.m., a automobile rammed a site visitors checkpoint on Stadium Road close to 92 Street, putting an officer and sending him flying into the air.

“Suddenly and without notice and at a high rate of speed, a male driving a white, Chevrolet Malibu crashed through the traffic barricades that were separating vehicles from pedestrians, the vehicle struck the officer, sending him flying into the air 15 feet before colliding with the officer’s cruiser, again at a high rate of speed,” Knecht defined.

He stated there was an ISIS flag within the automobile. A photograph of that sort of flag seems beneath.

Knecht stated a person, believed to be 30 years previous, then jumped out of his automobile and “viciously attacked” the Edmonton Police Service member with a knife. “A struggle then ensued, during which the male suspect stabbed the officer several times before fleeing the scene on foot northbound down 92nd street.”

The officer was taken to hospital and handled for non life-threatening accidents whereas a manhunt was launched.

At round 11:30 p.m., reporter Laurel Gregory was simply wrapping up a reside report on the finish of Global Edmonton’s News at 11 when a police officer shouted out a warning: “Get behind a tree. Or a car. This is for your own protection!” Gregory and cameraman Nathan Gross scrambled to security.

Police say it was simply earlier than midnight when a U-Haul truck was pulled over at a checkstop on Wayne Gretzky Drive close to 112 Avenue. Knecht stated the officer realized the motive force’s identify was much like that of the Malibu’s registered proprietor, and the U-Haul truck took off, pursued by police in direction of downtown Edmonton.

“Throughout the chase, the truck deliberately tried to hit pedestrians in crosswalks and alleys in two areas along Jasper Avenue.”

An alley off 109 Street in downtown Edmonton. October 1, 2017.

Quinn Phillips, Global News

One witness stated the U-Haul got here dashing down 109th Street and careened east into the alley subsequent to a bar, hitting two people.

An injured particular person being loaded into an ambulance on Jasper Avenue close to 107 Street. October 1, 2017.

Nathan Gross, Global News

And at 107 Street and Jasper Avenue, another person was seen being loaded into an ambulance. In whole, 4 people had been injured and brought to hospital.

Witnesses described seeing over a dozen police cruisers within the downtown core, lights and sirens on, blocking intersections.

The U-Haul ended up on its aspect on 100 Avenue, close to 107 Street, close to The Matrix resort.

A U-Haul truck ended up on its aspect on 100 Avenue close to 107 Street after driving by downtown Edmonton on Saturday, September 31, 2017.

Courtesy: Bogdan Babos

“The driver was apprehended and taken into police custody,” Knecht stated. “It is believed at this time that these two incidents are related.”

The incidents bear putting similarities to current terror assaults in Europe.

“These incidents are being investigated as acts of terrorism,” Knecht defined.

Edmonton police, the RCMP Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET) and its Canadian Public Security Agencies are investigating the incidents as acts of terrorism underneath Section 83.2 of the Criminal Code of Canada.

“We believe the individual acted alone, but we’re not ruling out that there may be others.”

Police stated there was no warning of the occasion. The identify of the person arrested has not been launched.

Edmonton police are anticipated to offer one other replace at three p.m. MT Sunday.